Arapahoe County has launched a new 'Adopt a Highway' volunteer cleanup program to keep our roadsides clear of litter and debris. Volunteer groups are invited to 'adopt' a stretch of roadway and commit to a cleanup at least twice a year for two years. New roadside signs will indicate who has adopted the roadway, and will alert drivers when litter cleanup is underway.

"We invite service organizations, businesses or families to contribute to environmental health and neighborhood beautification by "adopting" a stretch of road in your community," said County Commissioner Jim Dyer. "This is an opportunity to make a visible and immediate impact on the look and feel of the corridors that bring residents and visitors through the County."

The County's Road and Bridge Division identified 20 stretches of road in unincorporated Arapahoe County that were deemed safe and appropriate for regular volunteer litter clean-ups.The County will foster a safe and effective cleanup by providing each group with guidance and equipment, including safety vests and collection bags. County maintenance crews will handle picking up and disposing of collected trash.

"Volunteer litter cleanup programs are already in place in many cities and towns in our County, and we are pleased to offer citizens a safe mechanism to conduct cleanups in the unincorporated areas," said County Commissioner Rod Bockenfeld."By recognizing our volunteer groups on roadside signs, we hope that others will think twice before they knowingly discard trash that their neighbors have committed to clean up."

The first cleanup was conducted by the Columbine Kiwanis on Sept. 26 on Coal Mine Road, between Sheridan Boulevard and Platt Canyon Road in Littleton. Twenty volunteers participated in the two-hour clean up on this half-mile stretch of roadway.

The Adopt a Highway program is a partnership between Arapahoe County's Volunteer Connections and Public Works and Development Department. If you are interested in adopting a road, please call Jeff McWilliams, Road Operations Supervisor, at 720-874-6827. If you would like to learn about other Arapahoe County volunteer opportunities, please call Val Purser at 303-738-7938 or visit www.co.arapahoe.co.us.